[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 22, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4700-S4701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 281--RECOGNIZING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
FOUNDATION FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH AND ITS CRITICAL ROLE
IN AMERICA'S BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH STRATEGY BY ADVANCING BIOMEDICAL
RESEARCH AND THE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, THE
WORLD'S PREMIER BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AGENCY
Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Mr. Burr) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions:
S. Res. 281
Whereas Congress chartered the Foundation for the National
Institutes of Health (referred to in this preamble as the
``FNIH'') to support the mission of the National Institutes
of Health (referred to in this preamble as the ``NIH''),
which is to advance research in pursuit of fundamental
knowledge that will lead to better health outcomes for all;
Whereas June 26, 2021, marks 25 years since FNIH commenced
its work to improve health outcomes for the people of the
United States by facilitating groundbreaking research and
catalyzing innovation and discovery to answer the toughest
scientific questions;
Whereas FNIH is recognized by Congress, NIH, and the
biomedical community as a model for aligning public and
private partners around a common cause that advances
breakthrough biomedical discoveries and improves the quality
of people's lives;
Whereas, among the hundreds of programs FNIH has
facilitated, the Grand Challenges in Global Health
partnership, founded in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation, achieved scientific breakthroughs against
deadly diseases in the world's poorest countries and elevated
the role of FNIH as a leader in building alliances for
biomedical research;
Whereas FNIH, NIH, and the Food and Drug Administration of
the Department of Health and Human Services launched the
Accelerating Medicines Partnership as a public-private
collaboration to pursue new methods to develop diagnostics
and treatments for Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes,
autoimmune disorders, Parkinson's disease, and schizophrenia;
Whereas the FNIH created a new model for clinical trials
through initiatives to fight breast cancer and lung cancer,
continues to bring together partners to identify, develop,
and qualify biomarkers to improve drug discovery and
regulatory decisionmaking, and recognizes and supports
trailblazing researchers, some of whom have won other
prestigious scientific prizes, including the Nobel Prize;
Whereas FNIH supports caregivers of NIH Clinical Center
patients through the Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge, a
temporary residence for caregivers whose close presence helps
to sustain patients who volunteer for NIH research that was
constructed and is maintained by the FNIH on the NIH campus;
Whereas FNIH answered NIH's call to action to address the
largest pandemic in a century by launching and coordinating
the Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and
Vaccines (``ACTIV'') initiative in partnership with numerous
government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and
biopharmaceutical companies to accelerate the most promising
COVID-19 vaccines and treatments; and
Whereas FNIH remains an indispensable institution to the
biomedical research mission of the NIH and the people of the
United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Foundation for
the National Institutes of Health and its critical role in
advancing biomedical research and the mission of the National
Institutes of Health, the world's premier biomedical research
agency;
(2) applauds the Foundation for the National Institutes of
Health for its leadership and ongoing efforts to advance
human health outcomes through innovative public-private
partnerships that achieve groundbreaking biomedical research
results;
(3) commends the Foundation for the National Institutes of
Health for its efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic
through the Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions
and Vaccines initiative and accelerate the development of the
most promising treatments and vaccines for COVID-19; and
(4) reiterates that the Foundation for the National
Institutes of Health, in partnership with the National
Institutes of Health, is a vital and essential component of
biomedical research strategy of the United States.
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SENATE RESOLUTION 282--RECOGNIZING JULY 1, 2021, AS THE 100TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE AND COMMENDING THE
SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE TO CONGRESS AND THE
UNITED STATES
Ms. HASSAN (for herself, Mr. Paul, Mr. Carper, Mr. Grassley, Mr.
[[Page S4701]]
Padilla, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Peters, Mr. Lankford, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Braun,
Ms. Warren, Mr. Portman, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr.
Cardin, and Mr. Romney) submitted the following resolution; which was
considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 282
Whereas the General Accounting Office, predecessor to the
Government Accountability Office (referred to in this
preamble as the ``GAO''), opened its doors on July 1, 1921,
following the enactment of the Budget and Accounting Act,
1921 (Public Law 67-13; 42 Stat. 20);
Whereas the need, identified by Congress following World
War I, for more information and better control of
expenditures made by the Federal Government was filled by the
creation of the independent GAO;
Whereas Congress provided the GAO with a broad mandate--
(1) to investigate how Federal dollars are spent; and
(2) to review all Federal expenditures;
Whereas, as the size and expenditures of the Federal
Government grew during the Great Depression and World War II,
the GAO became overwhelmed with fiscal audits, which pushed
Congress to amend the authority of the GAO to enable it to
assist Federal agencies with improving their accounting and
spending controls;
Whereas Congress amended the authority of the GAO to expand
its work beyond financial audits to performance audits to
determine how Federal agencies and programs performed and met
their objectives in the wake of the Great Society programs of
the late 1960s;
Whereas the GAO shifted its priorities in the late 1900s
and early 2000s--
(1) to highlight high risk areas for Federal Government
waste and operation failures; and
(2) to work to improve Federal financial management and
budgeting;
Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, the
GAO is known around the world as a leader and source of
objective, nonpartisan information on government operations
through its work examining cost, effectiveness, and other
factors related to the success of Federal programs;
Whereas, in addition to its field offices across the United
States, the GAO operates field offices around the world to
make it easier to access and monitor Federal Government
operations that extend across the globe;
Whereas the GAO employs approximately 3,200 people and has
been recognized as being one of the top workplaces in the
Federal Government for several years by its multi-
disciplinary workforce, which includes analysts, auditors,
lawyers, economists, scientists, actuaries, law enforcement
and security personnel, healthcare experts, and education,
public policy, computer science, and cybersecurity personnel,
among others;
Whereas the GAO averaged a $165 return on every $1 invested
in the GAO between fiscal years 2016 and 2020 as a result of
Federal agencies and Congress acting on recommendations made
by the GAO;
Whereas the financial benefit to the Federal Government
resulting from the work of the GAO totaled--
(1) in fiscal year 2020, $77,600,000,000; and
(2) in the past 20 years combined, over $1,200,000,000,000;
and
Whereas, in addition to serving as the preeminent
independent government watchdog agency in the world, the GAO
provides additional services, which include--
(1) writing legal opinions at the request of Congress or in
response to a bid protest;
(2) authoring resources and standards for auditors around
the world;
(3) operating a hotline for the public to report waste,
fraud, abuse, or mismanagement of government funds; and
(4) providing testimony before Congress on a multitude of
topics: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the 100th anniversary of the Government
Accountability Office (referred to in this resolution as the
``GAO'') on July 1, 2021;
(2) commends the GAO for 100 years of service to Congress
and the United States as the preeminent independent
government watchdog agency in the world;
(3) offers its continued support to allow the GAO--
(A) to fulfill its mandates as required by law;
(B) to respond to requests made by Members of Congress; and
(C) to aid the Federal Government in improving its
stewardship of taxpayer dollars;
(4) recognizes Eugene Dodaro, the Comptroller General and
head of the GAO as of the date of adoption of this
resolution, and the dedicated and professional staff of the
GAO who work diligently to produce fact-based reports,
thoughtful recommendations, and sound legal decisions; and
(5) will continue to partner with the GAO in the pursuit of
its mission--
(A) to support Congress in meeting its constitutional
responsibilities; and
(B) to help improve the performance and accountability of
the Federal Government for the benefit of the people of the
United States.
Ms. HASAN. Mr. President, it is my great honor. as Chair of the U.S.
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committees
Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight to recognize
July 1, 2021, as the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the
Government Accountability Office (GAO), and commend it for its service
to the people of the United States. I am grateful to Comptroller
General Gene Dodaro and to GAO's 3,200 employees who work hard to
ensure that federal programs are well managed and fiscally responsible.
As we recognize the GAO, I also encourage my colleagues to continue to
partner with the GAO as we work together to help improve the
performance of the federal government for the benefit of the American
people. I urge my colleagues to join me in adopting this resolution.
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